But no sooner than his lyrics were selected as the new national anthem of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, he became a public figure overnight.
With the end of monarchy and the establishment of a republican system in the country, the erstwhile government announced to commission a new national anthem through a nationwide competition.[break]
Rai’s stanzas entitled “Sayaun Thunga Phoolka Hami Eutai Mala Nepali” (From hundreds of flowers, we are one garland – Nepalis) was chosen from among the 1,272 different songs submitted to the competition.
It was a lifetime achievement for a rural poet like Rai.
But the other side of the coin was that he also had a hard time maintaining a balance between his national identity and his personal life. He couldn’t give continuity to the works he had been doing previously, as he would be invited to any part of the country to attend literary, academic and other high-profile functions.
Since then, however, Byakul has spent all his time in studying literature, culture and folksongs in various parts of the country, authoring literary works and participating in literary, cultural and social activities.
In the last couple of years, as one result he has penned some songs and gajals. Some of them have been featured in music albums.
The latest is “Khoji Hera Desko Maato.”
“All the songs included in this album have national and patriotic feelings because the themes in these songs are about the encroachment of our national border, missing of border posts and pillars, and Nepal’s natural beauty and its youth’s role in nation building, anong other topics,” Rai told Republica. “I love these themes from my heart, and these sentiments are fit for me because of my position as well.”
Rai penned all the songs included in the album, and Gopal Adhikari composed music for them. Krishnabhakta Rai, Nisha Desar, Shambhu Rai, Deepak Limbu, Shishir Yogi, Uday Sotang, Shreyashi Chemjong, and Shambhu Rai have sung the patriotic songs.
Previous to that, he penned lyrics for a classical gajal album. This is called “Chhalbhitraka Pratibimba” which has also been simultaneously publicized.
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